CHEM 253 Making Molecules: Synthesis and Isolation - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Creation of chemicals and compounds is at the heart of synthetic chemistry and is fundamental for the preparation of new materials and medicines. Students will learn organic, organometallic and inorganic synthesis with an emphasis on how and why reactions occur. Students will study separation strategies and characterisation techniques such as NMR spectroscopy to determine reaction outcomes. Provides experience in synthesising, purifying and characterising compounds.

Course Overview

This course focuses on methods to identify, prepare and purify organic and inorganic molecules. Skills learned in CHEM 110 will be further developed and students will increase their knowledge in spectroscopy and synthesis whilst learning how to separate and purify reaction products. Additionally, students will be introduced to organometallic compounds learning their properties and their reactivity in numerous reactions. In the laboratory and tutorial components of the course, students will learn a variety of techniques to improve their laboratory skills. This course is important for those interested in preparing any chemical molecule or learning about chemical reactivity, whether they be biological molecules, industrial or pharmaceutical compounds, or otherwise. The course is preparation for several stage III chemistry courses and is one of three compulsory courses for all students studying a Chemistry Major and is also a compulsory course for those students enrolled in a Medicinal Chemistry Specialisation.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: CHEM 110 Restriction: CHEM 230

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand and describe the various types of stereochemical descriptions of organic and inorganic molecules (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Describe and give products of various chemical transformations of organic molecules (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Understand and describe the reactions of various organometallic species (Capability 3 and 4)
Outline the various separation methods utilised in synthetic chemistry. (Capability 4 and 5)
Apply spectrometric and spectroscopic methods in structural determination. (Capability 3, 4 and 5)
Understand and use chemical techniques in a laboratory setting following safe laboratory practises. (Capability 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Communicate results in various ways including technical report writing and in forms for a non-technical audience. (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Canvas Quizzes	5%	Individual Coursework
Assignments	10%	Individual Coursework
Test	15%	Individual Test
Laboratories	25%	Individual Coursework
Tutorials	5%	Individual Coursework
Final Exam	40%	Individual Examination
6 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Canvas Quizzes
Assignments
Test
Laboratories
Tutorials
Final Exam

A student must pass both the theory component and the practical component to gain an overall pass. The theory component is composed of quizzes, term tests, and final exams. The practical component is composed of laboratory experiments.

Tuākana

Tuākana Science is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/pacific-in-our-faculty.html
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/science/study-with-us/maori-in-our-faculty.html

As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of chemical sciences aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.

Tuākana Chemistry runs a range of activities for students enrolled in this class. This includes weekly workshops, social activities, and opportunities to engage with senior students and researchers within the School of Chemical Sciences. Tuākana-eligible students will be added automatically to the Tuākana Chemistry program when they enroll in this course. For more information, please see the Tuākana program website or email scstuakana@auckland.ac.nz.

Key Topics

The course is split into defined learning areas where various aspects of synthetic chemistry will be taught:

1. Use of spectrometry and spectroscopy in structural determination of molecules (2 weeks)

2. Methods to separate molecules (2 weeks)

3. Organic reaction chemistry (5 weeks)

4. Organometallic chemistry (3 weeks)

Special Requirements

Attendance at the laboratories is a compulsory part of this course. Students must be wearing safety glasses, covered footwear, and a lab coat before entering the laboratory and must keep these on until after exiting the laboratory. Jandals or other open shoes are not satisfactory footwear. Students who wear prescription spectacles are required to wear safety glasses over their spectacles. Must complete laboratory/practical work and comply with all health and safety regulations whilst in the laboratory.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 6 hours of tutorials, 18 hours of in-laboratory time and 12 hours of laboratory write-ups, 28 hours of reading and think about the content, and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs and tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials and labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable (lectures) with some activity fortnightly (laboratory sessions and tutorials).

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Lecture notes and laboratory manuals will be provided via Canvas

Student Feedback

During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.

Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.

Based on student feedback the due dates for assignment and one of the laboratory reports will ensure that they are not due at the same time and just before the mid-semester test.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.

You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	People and Place
Capability 2:	Sustainability
Capability 3:	Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4:	Critical Thinking
Capability 5:	Solution Seeking
Capability 6:	Communication
Capability 7:	Collaboration
Capability 8:	Ethics and Professionalism

CHEM 253 : Making Molecules: Synthesis and Isolation

Science

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)